Local 4-H Members Learn About Wool

Are you aware the United Kingdom has more sheep breeds than any other country in the world?

More than 60 different breeds are cared for by more than 40,000 sheep farmers. Wool has different features and benefits, and therefore, different uses, depending on where sheep live, on hills or lower land. The Bunker Hillbillies decided they wanted to learn more about wool. Mark and Tiann Goll from Laughing Sheep Fibers, located in downtown Sidney, shared their wool expertise with the Bunker Hillbillies 4-H members. The Goll's explained wool production from farm to the wide range of valuable products used across the world. Using wool roving, Tiann demonstrated several ways to spin wool.

A roving is a long and narrow bundle of wool fibers that are produced during the process of making spun yarn from wool fleece. The 4-H members were then provided with the opportunity to learn how to wet felt wool. Felting is the process of connecting or blending wool roving together to make a fabric. With wet felting this is accomplished with water, water temperature, soap and agitation. Wet felting with wool is very versatile.

Tiann first taught the members how to felt soap. Felted soap is a bar of soap wrapped in wool roving. This thin wool coat helps soap last longer and is a very gentle exfoliating washcloth. Then with a bit of wool roving, a length of bubble wrap, some soap and water the club members made a felted picture. A special thanks to the Golls who provide valuable opportunities to learn about and appreciate farm to product production.

The Bunker Hillbillies 4-H members will continue their exploration of wool with a tour at Brown Sheep Company in Mitchell, observing sheep shearing with Thaddaeus Beyer of Sidney, learning to knit with Jo Wells of Kimball and a workshop at the Potter Art Loft with Jennifer Thomas of Potter.

The club would like to thank volunteers who have supported their current activities and are proud to be part of the following history:

Mrs. Marvin (Leola) McNurlin, who taught the older kids at Bunker Hill School District, just north of the Sioux Army Depot, organized the club in 1965.

They took time during class to do their projects. The name of the club was chosen, and Dan Dalton was elected the first club President. Bunker Hillbillies was recognized as a charter 4-H club in the Fall in 1966. The first project for the club was First Aid.

Dennis Larson took over as organizational leader in 1969 and it became mostly a livestock club with some members doing sewing, cooking and other projects. Adult project leaders were: Ray and Clarice Kuehn, Roger Sorge, and Marge Borcher. In 1979 Dennis handed the reigns over to Rollie and Janet Waite.

• The McNurlin family legacy lives on with her granddaughter, Laura Narjes, now serving as a Cheyenne County Extension educator.

Leon Kriesel started helping Dennis Larson in 1977 and continued to help the Waite's along with Cheryl Burkhardt Kriesel.

Following are some of the leaders and project leaders through the years:

Stewart Morgan – 1984 – 1986

Jim & Marlene Higgins – 1986 – 1987

Kent & Marcia Miller, Cheri Berry – 1990 – 1993

In 1993 the club's small group of families were East of Gurley. They voted to take the new name of Rush Creek 4-H Club and the BunkerHillBillies returned back to the Bunker Hill School District area. The Bunker Hill School had closed in 1977.

Jim Larson (who was part of the club in the early years) took over as organizational leader in the Fall of 1993 with many of the members being children from families who were students of the Bunker Hill School and also members of the first years in the BunkerHillBillies. Many parents helped as project leaders through the years.

Mike and Melinda Beyer helped Jim lead projects in those years, and they took over leadership in 2008-2013

Matt & Heather Miller – 2014-2016

Sarah Deeds 2017-2019

Current Leader – Diane Horst